New Ulm weekly review., 1887-10-19
HER ROMANCE,

ner OF Third street, where the children
stopped on their way to school and
spent their pennies. They all called
/ her aunt Lucy. She was creeping
along among the seventies, when the
church in Pennhollow, where she had
attended for over fifty years, changed
ministers. Wise old parson Graves
slipped quietly away to his farm, and
young Arthur VIM. fresh from the
college, succeeded him. It was like
putting a book in the place of a living
oracle, but the people mad all hopes
that the book would some time bud
and blossom, as did Aaron's rod.
Young Winn had learned while among
the hills where be studied sacred lore,
not only the wisdom requisite to his
profession, but heart lesson, which
was quite as much needed. And so he
took Regina Ball to Pennhollow.
Regina had been my ms eparable
companion from the time of short
frocks and pinatores; and Pennhol-
low, with its great churches, it's new
duties, and strange scenes, could not
fill the void which each felt at separa-
ton. Scarcely was the new tent pitch
| ed ere beseeching'lette began to pour
in upon me to come to dear. lonely
friend: come and pass the winter in
Pennhollow.
[ had never travelled many miles
away from my own home, and this
opening opportunity was quite at
tractive. | took counsel with my
mother, and it was agreed, somewhat
sadly, I remember, that the beseech-
ing letters should have a favorable
answer. The sadness inhered in the
thought Of leaving my dear parents
quite alone through the dull
and stormy months, while
had a gay time in the
city. But were ever parents thought-
full OF themselves under such circum.
stances? From the beginning of the
world until now, the very word par
ent stands for self-sacrifce. A pity
for the children who allow the sacri-
fee to assert itself perpetually, and
without large returns.
And in going to Pennhollw got ac-
qainted with aunt Lucy and learned
her romance. When walked up the
broad aisle with Regina, and entered
the minister's pew, was somewhat
surprised to find it occupied. A little
old lady, her round face framed in
white cap frills, sat in the corner OF
the pew. Her dark eyes had smiling
twinkle, which certain permanent
! dimples intensified, making the
wrinkled old face inviting and pleas
ant. she was very decorious all
through the services, and instead OF
being hindered in our devotions by
the proximity Of a stranger. we were
helped. A degree of spiritual ex-
altation possessed us quite beyond
any previous experience. It may
have been in part owing to the time
honored church, and the multitude OF
decorous worshipers; but when Regina
and talked the matter over, we quite
agreed that our heavenly mood was
largely due to aunt Lucy. II sunshine
such as hers can glorify the face ofage,
there is something in religion which
our young enthusiasm has no power,
as yet, to fathom, we said; something
/ which grows and deepens with the
i passing years.
Hound that aunt Lucy always sat
! in the minister's pew. She seemed to
belong to the church in away which no.
body else did. AS / got acquainted
i with Jhe people, meeting them at the
soclables. and around their own tables
-Pennhollow was master
! place to ask the minister
/ to tea, and of course was
i always invited, tool found they all
claimed relationship with the little
old lady in the minister's pew. They
had persuaded her to give up ner can
dy store on tie corner OF Third street,
thinking she was too old to have so
| much care, and let the church take
| care of her.
They took right gracious way to
/ supply the income of the candy sales.
It was agreed that she should go out
to pass the day with one family. then
| with another, until she had made the
circuit OF the parish, then begin and
! 90 around again. and so on. As aunt
Lucy had nephew living on q farm
near the sea, so that she could go to
! the sea-shore in the summer, she did
not visit the same family oftener than
once q year, unless it might have been
| the family Of the minister. She could
not wholly conform to the routine,
l-but would 90 where she liked somewhat
oftener. remember she came for the
first time to the house of the young
minister on the Sunday after Thanks
giving An immense turkey, which did
not get roasted on the regular day for
the reason that the minister's family
was invited out, came to It's post ol
honor for aunt Lucy
| How eloquently she praised the cap
tain who brought the turkey, and the
lcaptain's 8 vile who sent the pies. Il